January 14, 2026Jan 14, 2026
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Weightlifting ace bags 11 gold medals

Date: 25/01/2022 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

There was a farewell match of meritorious weightlifters in the Weightlifting Gymnasium on Chongchun Street in Pyongyang on December 14 last year.

Among them was Choe Hyo Sim, winner of Kim Il Sung Youth Honour Prize and Merited Athlete.

“It is an honour to be here with world-class weightlifters like People’s Athlete Rim Jong Sim, winner of Kim Jong Il Prize and DPRK Labour Hero. I wish weightlifters of the young generation would succeed to the victorious tradition continuously,” she said when a journalist asked about her impression.

Choe Hyo Sim is a weightlifter who bagged 32 medals including 11 golds in 14 international competitions such as the Olympic Games and the World Weightlifting Championships.

Particularly in 2019, she left an indelible impression on people.

She lifted 100kg in the first try of women’s 59 kg category snatch at the IWF World Weightlifting Championships held that year.

After lifting 104kg in the second try, she offered to lift 107kg for the third try.

“In fact, I was very tense at that time. Because a new world record, a wall which all weightlifters looked for, was a step ahead of me. But I took my step without hesitation,” said Choe Hyo Sim.

As soon as she lifted 107kg in the third try, applause rose, and she became a new world record holder.

She fully demonstrated her ability at the 6th Qatar Cup held in 2019.

In the game attended by crack sportspersons, Hyo Sim jerked 130kg in the event of 64kg category to take the first place and won the event in total to obtain two gold medals.

Without resting on her laurels, she bagged another gold medal and a silver medal in 59kg category snatch and jerk respectively at the IWF World Cup held in 2019 and won two gold medals in total ranking.

For these successes she was selected as one of top ten players of the DPRK in 2019.

Afterwards she continued to make strenuous efforts for gold medal and the number of her golds increased.

In 2021 alone, she gained good results in different national games including the Mangyongdae Prize Games in celebration of the Day of the Sun and the national championships.

Therefore, Choe Hyo Sim was selected again as one of the top ten players of the country in 2021.

“Her tireless devotion for victory and her fair play are examples which we should follow. We will not forget her for a long time,” said Ji Su Yong, weightlifter of the Waudo Sports Club.

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